Littering and spitting in public places — a punishable offence?

SEPTEMBER 2018 TOPIC: Should littering and spitting in public places be made a punishable offence?

Spitting and littering in public places not only creates a filthy environment but also earns the country a bad image in the eyes of our foreign guests. Public places mirror the social behaviour of the citizens and it is our duty to keep them spic and span. It is unfortunate that we don’t follow rules and regulations until and unless we’re punished for violating them.
Krishna Sharma (14)
St Anthony’s Jr. College, Agra

We call the earth ‘Mother Earth’. The word ‘mother’ is generally associated with love and care. How can one litter and spit on one’s own mother? This must be made a punishable offence, as littering and spitting are not only eyesores but also a gateway to problems with regards to hygiene and the environment.
Aishlee Joshi (14)
St Joseph’s Convent School, Jalandhar

The slogan Swachh Bharat has become very popular in our country. But I wonder if it has only become lip service. Busstands, parks, streets, railway stations and picnic spots are turned into a mess due to littering and spitting. Very strict measures should be introduced so that people stop this behaviour. They should feel that public places are like their own homes which they keep clean and never dirty.
Pratikshya Khamari (15)
Bethany Convent School, Bargarh, Odisha

Littering and spitting in India are chronic problems. It is essential for the government to come up with a strict policy making littering and spitting in public places punishable by law. If people are not willing to shoulder the responsibility of keeping the country clean then this is the only way to make them realize what they are doing.
Kavya Mittal (14)
St Anthony’s Jr. College, Agra

India can learn from the U.S. where states have laws against littering and dumping waste on public property. Indians appear to believe that littering and dumping is fine and not worth regulating. Yes, violators should be fined and warned never to indulge in such behaviour again!
Khushi Gurnani (13)
Sophia Girls Sr. Sec. School, Bhilwara, Rajasthan

Littering and spitting are a rising concern and have the potential to cause health risks for the public and ecological problems for the environment. The imposition of fines is a good way to deter people from littering and spitting. Violators should also be given some sort of punishment and warning to never do it again!
Aparna Gosain (14)
St Francis De Sales School, Janakpuri, New Delhi

In our country, there is a huge lack of civic sense and hygiene. Not only the illiterate, uneducated and poor but even rich, resourceful and educated people litter and spit in public places. It is rightly said that, “Cleanliness and order are not matters of instinct, they are matters of education, and like most great things, you must cultivate a taste for them.” We need to educate people about this problem; but if still they do not mend their habits, then littering and spitting in public places should be made a punishable offence.
Krisha Gupta (11)
St Anthony’s Jr College, Agra

In India, people are found littering and spitting on the road or public places with impunity. We see even educated people travelling in expensive cars and rolling down their car’s window to dump trash on the road. Spitting and littering should fall under the category of crime and penalties should be levied. The public should also be made aware by means of various campaigns.
Deepal (14)
St Joseph’s Convent School, Jalandhar

Many states, including Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Maharashtra, are already imposing a minimum fine of Rs 500 and/or six months imprisonment if found littering in public spaces. But what needs to be changed is the attitude of the public. Besides making littering and spitting a punishable offence, the government should spread awareness among the public.
Amandeep Shah (18)
H.N.B. Garhwal University, Srinagar, Uttarakhand

Littering and spitting not only diminishes one’s dignity but also makes the country look like it lacks the ability to ingrain basic moral values in its people, which in turn affects the image of our country. If not for our country’s image then at least for the sake of nature we should make our surroundings hygienic and clean. Just so that phrases like “clean city, green city” and “cleanliness is next to godliness” do not stay on hoardings and in books, the government should take strict action and make littering and spitting a punishable offence.
Aditi Shubhsri (18)
Agra

Yes, a big fat yes! Lack of awareness about littering and spitting, and recklessness of the authorities, is abetting citizens to use this country as a dustbin. The government should impose heavy penalties along with spreading awareness about the consequences of increasing filth, otherwise, within no time our country will be under a heap of trash and stains.
Lipika Sharma (14)
St Anthony’s Jr College, Agra

We, Indians, are so used to littering and spitting, that no advertisements, awareness programmes, street plays or anything else will have an effect on us. Until and unless we are directly affected by what we are doing we won’t learn a lesson. We see people throwing paper or plastic on the road and others not even bothering to correct them. If we are punished for the wrong we are doing we will be cautious the next time and slowly not littering and spitting will become natural.
Priyanka H. P. (16)
Don Bosco School, Sutgatti-Hubli

In India, people litter everywhere. Spitting is also a huge problem as people chew pan masala, gutka, tobacco, etc. and then spit it out dirtying public utilities and spaces; monuments are not spared as well. Until pan masala, gutka, tobacco, etc., are banned, our country will never be clean. Offenders should be fined heavily or even put in jail so that they will think ten times before doing it again!
Prathmesh Kamra (15)
Notre Dame School, New Delhi

Littering and spitting in public places not only damage public property but also lead to health issues. It is unpatriotic and should be treated as a crime punishable by law. A heavy fine should be imposed on offenders; they should be forced to clean the area they have littered or dirtied.
Vrinda Sharma (15)
St Anthony’s Jr College, Agra

People not only spit at bus stops, railway stations, roads, etc., but they also spit on windows of trains, walls, parks, etc. It is one of the major reasons why serious infections become uncontrollable in our country. Littering and spitting in public places should be made punishable under law because these play a key role in spreading disease and damaging our environment.
Kritika Soni (13)
Sophia Girls Sr. Sec. School, Bhilwara, Rajasthan

People throw plastic, paper, bottles, etc., on the roads and in other public spaces rather than in the dustbin. Whenever we visit public places we see people spitting all over which is a health hazard. Littering and spitting should be made a punishable offence because it is only when people have to pay fines, will there be awareness regarding cleanliness and people will not litter or spit in public places.
Priyansi Agrawal (15) 
Bethany Convent School, Bargarh, Odisha

Bethany Convent School, Bargarh, Odisha India is a developing nation where ‘small issues’ are not given much priority. We all are aware of the Swachh Bharat campaign which aims at a pristine India, but these so-referred ‘small acts’ of littering and spitting prevent us from advancing towards this goal. Those indulging in these odious acts should be punished.
Livayaa Sharma (14)
St Anthony’s Jr College, Agra

We Indians lack social hygiene. People throw wrappers and eatables anywhere on the road. The practice of spitting and littering can be reduced to a considerable limit if heavy charges and punishments are imposed. We show no responsibility of cleaning India; we leave it all to the government. The government should take this initiative at the earliest.
Smriti Minhas (14)
St Joseph’s Convent School, Jalandhar

Many municipal laws already prohibit spitting and prescribe penalties. Only that, the provision is not enforced. The public’s attitude, the widespread culture of betel and tobacco chewing, and low priority keeps the practice going. No laws can teach basic etiquette but being punished in public may bring a change.
Winnesa Rozario (17)
St Anthony’s Jr College, Agra

Littering and spitting are not just words, but actions that degrade our nation. These are prohibited in some cities of India where a heavy fine is levied upon those who don’t follow the rules, but why not for the whole country? We are taught that keeping the environment clean will make Earth a better place to live in. Unless this is not made a punishable offence, people will not change their ways.
Harshita Verma (13)
St Joseph’s Convent School, Jalandhar

We gained independence for the betterment of our country and not for the loss of its dignity. Littering and spitting degrade the beauty of our country and make public places ugly and unhygienic. To inculcate a sense of discipline in people, littering and spitting should be made a punishable offence so that people will at least be scared of hefty fines.
Suhani (14)
St Anthony’s Jr College, Agra